Drying-machine.



0. M. MILLER, DBGD.

c. H. MILLER, ADMINISTRATRIX.

DRYINGMAOHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 1, 1910.

1,084,558. v Patented Jan. 13, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WiCnesse Q lnvent'or.

0. M. MILLER, DEOD.

0 H. MILLER, ADMINISTRATRIX.

DRYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 1, 1910.

Patented Jan. 13, 19M

2 SHEET S-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ORIGEN M. MILLER, OF.AMSTERCDAM, NEW YORK; COEA HERRICK MILLER ADMIN-ISTRATRIX OF SAID ORIGENM. MILLER, DECEASED.

DRYING-MACHINE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ORIGEN M. MILLER, a citizen of the United States,residin at Amsterdam, county of Montgomery, tate of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in DryingMachines, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to drying machines and has for its object theprovision-of a machine of this character in which the drying operationis performed with the aid of a current of air which is caused tocirculate through the material to be dried.

In carryin out my invention I provide a series of poo ets for receivingthe material to be dried and force air through the pockets. The pocketsare preferably arranged on the periphery of 'a-drum and maycomprisereceptacles or baskets which fit into openings to form closed pockets. Acurrent of air is forced through the pockets preferably by means of a anrevolving within the drum. Openings are provided from the fan throughthe, pockets and to this end the top and bottom of the pockets may beperforated. The drum containing the pockets may be caused to rotatealternately in opposite directions at a speed which is lower than thatof the fan, so that the material to be dried will not roll up and becomeso compact that the air will not readily circulate through it.

Otherobjects and purposes of my invention will appear in the course ofthe following specification, in which I have shown my invention embodiedin concrete mechanism for purposes of illustration.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a side view of my machine with thecasing partly broken away to show the interior arrangement; Fig. 2 is asimilar end view; and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of thereceptacles.

Referring now to the drawings for a full understanding of my invention,10 represents a closed box or casing in which the drying operation isperformed. This may be built of wood having a sheet metal lining. Theinterior of the casing is made accessible by having one side 11 onninges so as to constitute a door. Within this casing is a rotatabledrum or carrier 12. Around the eriphery of the drum are pockets 13 whichcommunicate with the in- Speciflcation of Letters Patent. Patented J an.13, 1914,

Application filed September 1, 1910. Serial No. 580,134.

terior of the drum through perforations. In the speclfic arrangementshown I provide two circular end members 14 between.

which are secured radial partitions 15 forming the sides of the pockets.The bottom of the pockets is formed-by a drum 16 of perforated metal orwire screen. At each end of the drum is an annular casting 17 arrangedconcentrically with the drum. Tie rods 18 pass from one casting to theother through the drum to secure all parts securely in place. Thesecastings 17 are flanged so as to form flat rings 19 which act as drlvingsupports for the drum. The rings are supported on wheels 20, there beingtwo wheels for each ring. The four wheels 20 are arranged as shown ontwo shafts each having bearings on the cross bars 21. These four wheelssupport the drum and at the same time rotate it by frictionale'ngagement with the rings 19. The four shafts are geared together inpairs by sprocket chains 22, while two of the shafts each have anadditional sprocket wheel 23 which is geared to the oountershaft 24 by asprocket chain 25.

In' the operation of my machine I find it desirable to periodicallyreverse the rotation of the drum and to this end I rovide for thereversing of the oountershaft 24. This may be done in any well-knownmanner, as, for instance, by means of an automatic belt shifter 26, Anywell-known form of belt shifter will suit my purpose, but in the presentcase I have shown the oountershaft 24: as being provided with two loosepulleys 27 having a tight pulley 28 between them. Open and crossed belts29 and 30, respectively, pass to the driving shaft 17. The belts areshifted in a well-known manner by the worm gearing 31 operating theshifting rod 32. It is obvious from this construction that as theoountershaft 24 is rotated first in one direction and then in the otherthe drum will be similarly rotated and reversed.

In order to provide a cover for the pockets and likewise to provide areceptacle for the ,tends through the casing and is provided with adriving pulley 39 which in turn is driven by a belt 40 from the drivingshaft 17. The fan is belted so as to be driven at a higher speed thanthat of the drum and is of course rotated continuously in the samedirection. The interior of the casing is heated by means of steam coils41 in any desired manner. Fresh air. is drawn in by the blower throughthe intake pipe 42- and is discharged through the pipe 43.

The operation of my device is as follows: The material to be dried isplaced in the receptacles 34 which are locked in the pockets of thedrum. When all, or the desired number of receptacles are filled the door11 is closed and the machine is started. The drum revolves a fewrevolutions in one direction'and then reversing makes a like number ofrevolutions in the opposite direction. This prevents the material frombeing rolled up and compacted, which would tend to prevent the propercirculation of air through the material. The rotation of the fan withinthe drum forces air through the screen 16, thence through the materialand out through the screen 34. By this arrangement a stream of freshair, which preferably is heated, is forced through the material andcauses it to dry quickly. By placing the fan in close relation with thematerial to be dried, a more eflicient action of the air is produced. Byproviding a plurality of pockets it is possible to keep the materials ingroups separate from each other, as desired, so that the materials willnot have to be assorted after they are re moved from the drier.

While I have shown my invention as embodied in concrete structure and asoperating in a definite manner in accordance with the patent statutes,it should be understood that I do not limit my invention to theparticular construction or arrangement of parts herein shown anddescribed except is so far as it is limited by the scope of the claimsannexed hereto.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates, is

1. A clothes drying machine comprising a rotary drum, a fan within saiddrum, and a plurality of pockets arranged around the periphery of saiddrum each having a perforated top and bottom so that the air from thefan is forced through the pockets radially of the drum.

2. A clothes drying machine comprising a rotary drum, a fan within saiddrum, a perforated Wall surrounding said fan, and a plurality ofreceptacles having perforated bottoms arranged around the periphery ofthe drum so that said wall forms a cover for the receptacles, the airfrom said fan being forced through the receptacles radially of the drum.

3. A clothes drying machine comprising a drum provided with means forrotating the same alternately in opposite directions, a fan within saiddrum, and a plurality of pockets arranged around the periphery of thedrum each having a perforated top and bottom so that the air from thefan is forced through the pockets radially of the drum.

4. A clothes drying machine comprising a rotary drum, a fan within saiddrum, a perforated wall surrounding said fan, a plurality of partitionsextending between the walls of the drum outward from said wall to formpockets, and a plurality of receptacles having perforated bottomsarranged to enter said pockets so that the air from the fan will beforced through the receptacles ra dially of the drum.

5. A clothes drying machine comprising a rotary drum, a fan within saiddrum, a plurality of radial partitions extending between the walls ofsaid drum and outwardly from the fan, and a plurality of detachablereceptacles secured between said partitions to form pockets, saidpockets having perforated tops and bottoms through which the air fromthe fan will be forced radially of the drum.

6. A clothes drying machine comprising a radial drum, a fan within saiddrum, a plurality of radial partitions extending between the walls ofsaid drum and outwardly from the fan, a plurality of detachablereceptacles secured between said partitions to form pockets, saidpockets having perforated tops and bottoms through which the air fromthe fan will be forced radially of the drum, and means for rotating thedrum alternately in opposite directions.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 30 day of August,1910.

ORIGEN M. MILLER.

Witnesses:

FRANK J. SEABOLT, MARGARET A. DELEHANTY.

